Acid and Bases- Coin-Operated Red, White, and Blue Fountain: Reaction of Nitric Acid and Copper

Coin-Operated Red, White, and Blue Fountain: Reaction of Nitric Acid and Copper

Description: Nitric acid plus copper gives nitric acid oxide in an exothermic reaction. The expanding gas displaces water from another flask; when the gas cools, the water is drawn back into the flask, dissolving the nitric oxide and forming a blue solution with the remaining copper ions.

Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry

Year: 1989 Vol. 3 Page 83

Keywords: Nitric Acid, Exothermic, Rube-Goldberg, Copper, Nitric Oxide, Indicator

Rating:

Hazard: High

• Acute toxicity hazard
• Production of toxic gases
• Inhalation hazard
• Skin corrosion hazard
• Aquatic hazard
• Mutagenicity hazard
• Corrosive to metals

Effectiveness: Average

• Low reliability
• Time to result high
• Some connection from demo to course material
• Mild effects are seen by the audience
• Primary and secondary effects are seen by audience

Difficulty: Medium

• Coordinated addition of reagents
• System must be pressure-tight
• Prior training recommended
• Some intermediate steps to results
• Some sequential manipulations

Safety Precautions:

• Downdraft hood or fume hood recommended
• Perform in a well-ventilated area
• Eye protection required
• Gloves required
• Lab coat recommended
• Chemically inert surface required
• Sodium bicarbonate on hand
• Absorbent material on hand
• Prevent release of reagents to the environment

Class: Redox, Gas Producing Reaction, Acids and Bases

Division: General

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